Experimental and analytical study on soft storey condition of floating frame resting on transfer girder.

In December 2016, Bureau Of Indian Standards adopted I.S. 1893 : 2016 (Part 1) (Sixth Revision). The code defines, soft storey is one in which the lateral stiffness is less than that in the storey above. Thus, equal or higher lateral stiffness of lower storey as compared to immediate upper storey is proposed than that were allowed in I.S. 1893 Part 1 : 2002. To create column free spaces to provide clear drive way and parking movability, under scarcity of land, development rules regarding open spaces and parking, multi-storey and high-rise structures are constructed with transfer girders. Using 28 different experimental models made of mild steel, the present experimental & analytical model comparative study concentrates on effect of variation in stiffness of transfer girder on the lateral stiffness of the frame floated from it under lateral load. The results show that, the soft storey condition of a floating frame remains unaltered, irrespective of the change in stiffness or end support conditions of the transfer girders or its placement on transfer girder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]